Support Your Local Pastor

What is my family’s relationship with the ministry?   Do I help in the work of the ministry? How should I relate to my pastor?

The first thing one needs to recognize is that  “…he is a minister of God… for he beareth not the sword (the Word of God) in vain…” Romans 13:4. My pastor is a part of a God-ordained ministry for the ‘perfecting of the saints’.   Ephesians 4:11-12.

Ministers of God are not to try to please men, but must strive to please God.  One must recognize that a true minister of God does not have an impure motive.

Paul establishes, or rather clarifies his position as a minister of the Word of God, while writing to the Thessalonians “.. for our exhortations was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile… not as pleasing men, but God which trieth our hearts.  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness…” 1 Thessalonians 2:3-5.

He continues in verse 7 and compares himself to a NURSING MOTHER, when he says “…but we were gentle among you even as a nurse cherisheth her children…”   I like the Living Bible on this verse.  It says, “…we were as gentle among you as a MOTHER feeding and caring for her own children…”

How a mother feeds her child is as important as what she feeds her child.  She knows that the child needs love, food and tender care.  The ministry, as a mother, knows that newborn babies need the milk of the Word “…as new born babies, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby.”  1 Peter 2:2. As the children grow up, they need bread, the Word, – Matthew 4:4; and meat – Hebrews 5:14.

In 1 Corinthians 4:14-15, Paul uses the image of a father.  In verse 14, “…as my beloved sons I warn you…:  Verse 15 “…for though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have you not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have BEGOTTEN you through the Gospel…”

In I Thessalonians 2:11 Paul says, “…as you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a FATHER doeth his children.”

As a Father, he labored and preached (verse 9); behaved himself and exhorted (verse 10); comforted and charged (verse 11); and suffered (verse 14).

Remember, my minister, my pastor, is not just an instructor of the Word of God; but like Paul, he is a “gentle mother” and a “loving father”.  In other words, he is a spiritual parent to his children.
Here is a question for all parents reading this article.  How would you like your children to respond to you in different situations?

Do you expect your children to honor and obey?

Do you expect them to keep you informed of their whereabouts; with whom they are spending their time and what they are doing?

Do you want them to come to you for help when they are faced with problems, rather than seeking help from the ungodly?

In the natural, if a father expects his children to honor and obey; keep him informed of their whereabouts and come to him for guidance in their times of need, how much more does a spiritual father, my minister, watch out for his children?   We can save a pastor a lot of anxiety if we just inform him of the things we are doing which may keep us from attending a few services.  Not only will he be aware of what you are doing, he will uphold you in prayer.

How do I look at my minister today?  What is his position in my family’s life?  Do I put my confidence in my pastor, confide in him and obey him?  Do I take his counsel in important matters of life?  There are many issues in life where I need my minister’s advice.   Many times in the Old Testament, God’s people enquired of the LORD, through the prophets to get the mind of the God in a given situation.   God approved of this by blessing them.

Paul not only taught the Word but also encouraged the people from his own experience in the Lord.  In I Thessalonians 2:13, Paul was thankful and rejoiced over the way the Word of God was received – not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God.   The result was God effectually worked in their lives.

In a godly family, the God-fearing father must take his rightful place as the priest in his house and build an altar for God. (Genesis 35:1-4) If he does not, the home remains uncovered, and is open to demonic activities.  Once the Devil knows that the house is under the covering of a God-fearing father who in turn is under the covering of the Ministry, the Devil keeps his hands of that family.

Paul establishes this order in 1 Corinthians 11 when he says the head of every man is Christ (the head of the Church – Ministry).    Those who are single, widowed and divorced come under the covering of the Church.  The Bible in James 1:27 says to take care of the widows and the fatherless.  This does not necessarily involve food, money or shelter, but asking the Ministry to become their covering.

Being in the Ministry for over 30 years, I have observed things that can be a blessing and help build a strong local Church.

1.  Trust the authority of the minister.

He stands there representing Christ “. . . As an ambassador for Christ . . .” II Corinthians 5:20.  Let us not be as the chief priests and the scribes of Jesus’ time that questioned His authority (Luke 20:2).  Not obeying the ministry is as bad as questioning the authority of the ministry.  Someone said, continual rejection of God’s delegated authority results in finally rejecting God and going our own way.

Matthew 10:40 . . . “He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me . . .” God puts Himself just one step behind the delegated authority.  According to verse 41, not only the prophet is rewarded, but we that receive him are rewarded.

Many times we expect our directions directly from God; we wait for God to tell us what to do.  We just do not want to receive what we need from delegated authority.  In that case, why would God establish the five-fold ministry?  This reminds me of Miriam and Aaron in Numbers 12 . . .”Does God only speak through Moses?”  We see how God dealt with Miriam.  God’s anger was kindled against them – Numbers 12:9.  Also, Naaman was angry because Elisha did not come personally to talk to him, but sent his servant.

My blessing depends on how I respond to the ministry that God has placed over me.  Paul said in Romans 13:4, “For he is the minister of God to THEE FOR GOOD.”

2.  Submission brings blessing.

In Genesis 16:6 is the example of Hagar.  When Sarah deals with her harshly, she runs away.  In verse 9 an angel of the LORD tells Hagar to return to her mistress and SUBMIT.  Her submission brought her the blessings we read in verse 10.

Paul says in Hebrews 13:17 “Obey them that have the rule over you and SUBMIT yourselves, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you.”

3.  When in doubt, come to the ministry for advice and guidance.

In Genesis 21:10, when Sarah saw Ishmael, the son of Hagar, mocking, she tells Abraham to cast Hagar way.  Abraham would not do it because the ‘thing was grievous in his sight’ – verse 12.   He would not hearken unto Sarah because he knew when he hearkened unto her in Genesis 16:2 and took Hagar as a mistress, all the problems started.  He did not want to repeat the same mistake.  In Genesis 21:12, God tells Abraham to hearken unto Sarah accordingly, Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael away.

4.  Encourage your spouse to follow and obey the ministry in Godly matters.

When Hannah wanted to dedicate Samuel for the service of the Lord, Elkanah her husband did not oppose her but said, “. . . Do what seemeth thee good.”  1 Samuel 1:23.

5.  Dedicate your children for the work of the ministry.

How will you respond when a minister asks your older children to work for the church, play in the band or be an usher.  As a parent, will you count it as an honor or feel the minister should first check with you?

Whom did Paul ask when he circumcised Timothy?  Acts 16:3.  Did Jesus have to take parent’s permission before calling His disciples?  Or did He just say “Follow Me”?  It is better for our children to be in the house of God than to be out in the world.

6.  As a parent, jealousy should not separate your children from the ministry.

To children, especially young ones, their Pastor and the Pastor’s wife become their role model.  Parents should not feel threatened when their children look up to and want to be around the Ministry.  The closer they are to the Ministry, the safer they are.

7.  Lastly, when and if the ministry is dealing with touchy areas, stay in the boat.

Eccl. 10:4 says, “If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place, for yielding pacifieth great offences.”

The Church is here for us, for our safety and for our blessing.  It is our God-given responsibility to support the ministry in every possible way.  Take time to talk to your pastor.  He is always there when you need him.